FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration, (239) 335-2777

BOARD APPROVES GOOD WHEELS EMERGENCY FUNDING/PURCHASES METRO PARKWAY TRACT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 6, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting. They are:

Good Wheels Funding - Approved $210,000 for the Local Coordinating Board (LCB) to provide Good Wheels, the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC), $30,000 per month for transportation services from March through September, 2004. The funding is a "stop-gap" measure to allow Good Wheels to operate for six months while alternative funding and operational solutions are sought.

During those six months, Good Wheels also will: seek rate increases from the state Transportation Disadvantaged Commission for non-sponsored rides (those other than Medicaid and Children and Families); seek an increase in the state Medicaid allocation for TD trips; strongly consider implementing efficiency recommendations from a recent Clerk of Courts audit; and maximize use of the county's fixed route bus system for ambulatory customers. At the same time, the county will prepare a Request for Proposals for ADA services effective Oct. 1, 2004. That will allow Good Wheels to make any cost adjustments necessary for its bid/contract.

Background:

On July 1, 2003, Goodwheels submitted a bid and was awarded the contract for ADA transportation services for Lee County Transit, which increased the current ADA rates by $221,944 annually. On July 1, 2003, Goodwheels submitted a bid and was also awarded a contract by the TD Commission through the SWF Regional Planning Council for transportation services. In December 2003, Goodwheels was having financial difficulties and submitted a request to Lee County for funding retroactive back to July 1, 2003, to keep them in business. The BOCC approved funding in the amount of $205,000 to Goodwheels, and requested the Clerk of Courts to perform an audit of Goodwheels. The Clerk's audit report confirmed that Goodwheels is in financial trouble. The audit report recommended that Goodwheels complete a TD System Rate Review and present to the State Commission for Transportation Disadvantage; review all overtime utilization to determine most cost effective strategy; review incentive pay policies, particularly during a period of fiscal crisis; properly allocate overhead to all business activities to better determine where funding shortfalls are occurring; and review current payroll processing contract for potential cost savings. Also, require the LCB as a condition of funding to coordinate with LeeTran, the CTC and LCB to evaluate which customers could use fixed routes. If the above short term recommended actions and funding do not result in restoring financial stability to Goodwheels, then the County will seek appointment as the CTC to control the available state funding and seek appropriate service efficiencies and alternatives.

Manatee Signs - Approved allowing U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to use the county's Manatee Speed Zone signs for its speed zone signage for 120 days. The USFWS recently file and emergency rule reinstating Manatee Speed Zones that had been struck down by a state circuit court. The temporary use of the signs will avoid having the county remove the signs and the USFWS install new ones. There are approximately 272 signs in question. They are throughout Matlacha Pass, around St. James City, the mouth of the Caloosahatchee, Punta Rassa Cove, and Estero Bay. The Board had questions about who should permanently own the signs, and maintain and repair them, and whether the county retains liability if it doesn't transfer ownership of the signs. Those issues will be resolved before the emergency rule becomes permanent.

Heitman Street - Were informed that the Fort Myers City Council on Monday night adopted a resolution vacating Heitman Street in downtown Fort Myers between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Main Street. The street runs along the SunTrust Center, which was recently purchased by the county for the court system. The Justice Center Master Plan includes the addition of buildings "E" and "F" of the Lee County Justice Center to be built on vacated Heitman Street with a pedestrian bridge to the SunTrust Building and Outdoor Plaza.

Metro Property - Approved an agreement to purchase 6.8 acres along the west side of Metro Parkway between Daniels and Six Mile Cypress for a retention pond for the widening of Metro Parkway from two to six lanes in that area that is part of the overall extension of Metro to U.S. 41. The cost of the property was $6.50 per square foot, or $1.93 million. The Florida Department of Transportation will reimburse the cost for the four-acre pond when funds become available. The remaining 2.8 acres will be used by the county or sold as surplus. The actions allows the county to accelerate the widening of Metro along that stretch so when the extension is done, six lanes aren't funneling into two lanes in that area, causing a bottleneck.